The Top 5 Strangest Albums In My Collection

Let’s face it, we all have some albums in our collections that might make our other vinyl-loving friends question our sanity. Rekkids that should be filed under, “I’ve probably only ever listened to this once but I refuse to get rid of it”.

So, without further ado, *drumroll please*, here’s the top 5 strangest albums in my collection!

#5 / Tú ‎– Tú

Okay so, what the hell, right? First of all I’m sure you’re asking who the heck is this (or maybe you’re not if you’re in your 40s, like me). Tú were essentially a one-hit-wonder Canadian band made up of twin sisters (duh), Amanda and Cassandra DiBlasi. They released 2 albums in the late 80s but the only thing of theirs that made it big was their hair.

Why do I keep this in my collection?

Because, frankly I loved that one hit of theirs Stay With Me! When that song came out I was a 14-year-old girl old and wanted their look y’all! Who didn’t love a huge perm back then? I’m pretty sure I got my first perm when I was 14 because of the Tú twins… In a nutshell, this is in my collection purely for sentimental reasons. Fun fact—the vinyl is perm solution scented. Just kidding! Wouldn’t that be perfect though? I should work in marketing…

#4 / American Top 40 With Shadoe Stevens (chart date: 3/10/90)

Hun? Picture it: Saint John, March 3, 1990. The local radio station is giving away their Top 40 show recording, as they do every week, along with a pizza from Vito’s (I think it was), if you’re caller number whatever. Well, I was caller number whatever this time. I don’t think I’ve listened to this since 1990 to be honest.

Why do I keep this in my collection?

Again, this is a sentimental thing. I’ve rarely won anything in my life but I won this so it stays until someone breaks it because they’re jealous, just like that scene in A Christmas Story. Fun fact: because I was caller number whatever that week, my name also got entered into a draw to win a $750 Sony car stereo system, which I ALSO WON! Of course I didn’t get my license until I was 17, 2 years later but whatevs!

#3 / Bob & Doug McKenzie ‎– Great White North

Coo-loo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-cooooooo! I don’t remember how or when this album appeared in my collection to be honest. It’s like it’s just always magically been there. I wonder if the Americans play “Twelve Days of Christmas” McKenzie-style as much as we do up here in the Great White North.

Why do I keep this in my collection?

Take off, eh. Are you even Canadian if you don’t own this album? Ya hozer. Fun fact: the characters of Bob & Doug McKenzie were created out of necessity. CBC demanded that the sketch comedy show SCTV include 2 minutes of CanCon (aka Canadian Content). As a joke, Moranis and Thomas thought of as many Canadian stereotypes as they could and Bob and Doug McKenzie were born.

#2 / Jimmy Page‎ – Soundtracks

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Led Zeppelin and will have an eternal crush on Jimmy Page. Thankfully this dude also loves re-mastering his music and, from time to time, puts out things like this. For the most part, this is an entire box set of some of his most experimental work. By his own admission, he says that this was “just a step along the road of my interest in the extreme and alternative”.

Why do I keep this in my collection?

Because it’s a gem and, as weird as some of the stuff is, when you’re a fan—you’re a fan through thick and thin y’know? He put a lot of long hours into re-mastering this collection and I’m happy to have it in mine. I’ll never get rid of this. Fun fact: As far as Death Wish II goes, Roger Ebert gave it zero stars. One of the very few zero star ratings he ever gave.

#1 / E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial narrated by Michael Jackson

We’ve all seen the movie and still cry to this day (no? Just me?). But have you heard the movie narrated by Michael Jackson? Well, you’re in luck because somewhere along the line, Quincy Jones convinced MCA that Michael should do the children’s audiobook for the movie; and because of that, I was one happy 8-year-old walkin’ around the schoolyard with my red jacket with 100 zips and mini E.T plush toy!

Why do I keep this in my collection?

Again, this is definitely sentimental. This is one of my very first albums I ever owned so it’s in it for the long-haul. I couldn’t bear to part with this, ever. Fun fact: Michael recorded this audiobook the exact same time he was working with Quincy on another album I bet you have in your collection: Thriller!

So what are some of the strangest albums in your collection? Do you have any of the ones I list above? Come on—I know someone out there other than me must have the Tú album, right?

Until next time—keep spinning the black circle!

– Monique

Monique Gionet started collecting vinyl again in 2005 after she found her old record collection at her parents’ house. By 2006 she had sold off her entire CD collection and it’s been a love affair for the vinyl experience ever since. When she’s not spinning, she has a day job as a Technical Writer and moonlights as a lifestyle blogger on her website moniquegionet.com. Loves include fresh-cut flowers, Earl Grey tea, her 2 family cats, her Boston Terrier puppy, and her 4 elephant fosters from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Monique Gionet started collecting vinyl again in 2005 after she found her old record collection at her parents’ house. By 2006 she had sold off her entire CD collection and it’s been a love affair for the vinyl experience ever since. When she’s not spinning, she has a day job as a Technical Writer and moonlights as a lifestyle blogger on her website moniquegionet.com. Loves include fresh-cut flowers, Earl Grey tea, her 2 family cats, her Boston Terrier puppy, and her 4 elephant fosters from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.